Page 111 of A Love That Saved Us

I stop pacing and plant both hands on the countertop, smirking. “And do you remember what happened that night?”

Matt laughs. “Touché.”

I had sex with Ashley Bengal that night. I still remember the sweet smell of her Vera Wang perfume. I’d bought it for her birthday a few days earlier.

He cracks open the beer cases and starts stocking the fridge. I join in, pulling bottles from the cardboard and handing them to him.

“Don’t question my methods,” I say. “They’ve never failed me.”

“Except for that one time you got hooked on Oxy.” He pops open a beer, takes a swig, and eyes me over the neck of the bottle. “Too soon?”

I chuckle. “Only if you want a black eye to go with that beer.”

He howls, swaps the beer for a can of Liquid Death water, and hands it to me. “Got you some of these. I know it’s not exciting, but I didn’t want you to feel left out.”

“Thanks, man. I appreciate it.” I really do. I take the can from him and pop it open. The cold condensation seeps into my palm, and it’s crazy how just holding a can or bottle can quiet the craving to blend in. Means a lot that he thought about me.

The elevator doors slide open, and Alley and Scarlett step into the foyer.God, she’s beautiful. I grin, and my pulse kicks up a notch as my eyes roam over her. She’s wearing one of my jerseys. She must’ve taken it when she packed, and that alone punches me right in the fucking feels. It brings back memories of Sunday nights on the couch with her curled up in it.

“Hey, Al. Hey, Scarlett,” Matt calls out as I’m already moving toward her.

We meet halfway, and I don’t slow down. I crash into her, mouth first, tasting her. My hand slides into her hair, the silky strands combing through my fingers as she makes this softmmmthat shoots straight to the tip of my dick.

I finally break the kiss, still grinning like a stupid-happy fool. She gives me a slow, sexy smile, catching her bottom lip between her teeth. My gaze drops.Jesus Christ.She’s wearing biker shorts. My jersey’s big. I’m six-two, and on her? It looks like she’s wearing nothing underneath.

She knows I lose my mind when she wears those shorts.

It’s hot—she’shot. I’m getting hard, and it’s a fucking problem.

“Damn, baby,” I murmur. “You look hot.”

“Thank you.” She plants another kiss on my lips before turning to hug Matt, who’s hovering a step behind me.

Scarlett’s already hugged him and is now unpacking items from the paper bag she brought in.

“Hey, Scarlett,” I call out.

“Hey.” She doesn’t even look up.

Christ.This should be fun.

“Super Bowlin the Berkshires was so much fun two years ago. We should’ve done that again,” Megan says as the game cuts to commercial. There’s only three minutes of playtime left before halftime.

“Yeah, but Jeff and Amber couldn’t go this weekend, remember? Hence, why they aren’t here,” Matt says as he stands. “I gotta pee.”

He disappears down the hall. I turn my head, finding Alley in the kitchen with Scarlett, manning the appetizers. She’s mixing a dip and chatting with Scarlett, who’s perched on a stool across from her. Megan gets up and joins them.

Seeing Alley and Megan together again here in New York was one for the books. I don’t know who cried more, but it gave me hope. Hope that even if it takes Alley a while to trust me, maybe she’ll stick around for the others.God, that’s pathetic.I don’t know if she’ll ever fully come back to me. But if flirty Super Bowls and separate hotel rooms is all I get? I’ll fucking take it.

“How long is Alley in town?” Kevin asks.

I grab the remote and turn the volume down. Between the girls in the kitchen, and the TV, it’s loud. Matt’s ceilings are high and everything carries in here. “She leaves tomorrow.”

He nods. “How’s having her back home?”

“It’s been great, but she hasn’t come home yet. She’s staying with Scarlett.”

“Oh, damn. You okay with that?”